A Few Good Reads

Normally my Google Reader inbox is sort of quiet, but today there were several good reads that I’d like to share with you.

A list of good picture books here. I’m always looking for more recommendations on children’s books; I’ll never outgrow my love for them (I hope not anyway).

Carolyn wrote about going green. It made me realize how much more aware I’ve become of my tiny social responsibility since I moved out of USA. My dear fellow Americans–we’re way behind the bandwagon on this one.

Jewel wrote about the youth fellowship meetings and the dilemma we Americans face as Anabaptists living in a world-powerful country. I don’t even know Jewel, but I love reading her posts. It’s nice to know we have youth who are thoughtful and observant and who care about Anabaptism as well as following the Lord.

I’ve loved reading Dorcas Smucker’s series of recent posts about her Epic trip with her daughter. (You can see the links under Previous Posts on the right hand side of the page.) I laughed out loud at her account of sharing a motel room with a hippie. I also realized what a different experience it is to travel by bus in the States as opposed to Europe. We spent upwards of six hours almost every weekend last year in Ireland on a bus, and the bus officials as well as the passengers were timely, professional, and courteous. We never encountered such collective rudeness as Dorcas experienced. Way to go, Bus Eireann!

8 comments

Long ago, I was on an email group with Gabriel– I think it was called kiddosforChrist or something like that. I always enjoyed reading his thoughts. Also, Rafe was at CBS ’09 with me, and it was always hilarious to hang out with him. He and Amy are such jolly fun– no doubt you think so too.

Now and again I come across your blog, and I always enjoy it! Living in Ireland sounds amazing and novel, and yet I’m sure that it’s mundane at times, just like Kansas. But living where God has you brings meaning to any mundane life.

What I’ve learned is mostly what you mentioned: the importance of recycling and reducing waste. Why take the SUV to the post office when you can walk there? Why own an SUV in the first place? (OK, I’ll admit I’d like one.) I guess for me it took moving to a socialistic, more environmentally responsible country like Canada or Ireland to realize how hard we humans can be on our planet. But I also think it’s easier to be “green” here than in the States–for example, there is an integrated recycling system, paid for by the taxpayers, that picks up our recycling at the end of the lane every week.

Whatever do you mean by calling Bus Eireann “courteous and professional”? I got Bus Eireann buses for 5 years when at school (EU school) and they were normally 20 mins late.On two occasions they failed to turn up at all leaving us stranded.And the drivers are so rude.Do you know in N.Ireland the train staff help people bring their luggage on train and that the bus drivers have given me free trips?Bus Eireann I hate thee!

Too bad you had a bad experience, Lucy. I can honestly say that we rarely waited on overdue buses, and the drivers were almost without fail courteous to us. It sounds like Northern Ireland is good at courtesy as well!